Question : 5G Field Trials

(a) whether the Government proposes to allow foreign-owned telecom operators including China’s ZTE and Huawei to be a part of 5G field trials in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the said operators will be given equal access to the country’s telecom infrastructure as domestic operators and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect the country’s telecommunications infrastructure from possible surveillance attempts by foreign-owned telecom operators?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)


(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *73 FOR 26TH JUNE, 2019 ON “5G FIELD TRIALS”.


(a) to (c) Proposals from Major Global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for 5G technology trials in India along with Indian Telecom Service Providers (TSP), start-ups, local vendors and academia have been invited. So far six proposals have been received which includes proposals from China’s ZTE and Huawei. Any field trial in respect of 5G is to be carried out only through licensed Telecom Service Providers in a restrictive, limited geographical area and for specific use case.

A Committee under Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) has been constituted to give recommendations on various issues, including security, relating to 5G and Technology Trials in India. To address security concerns including surveillance, there are comprehensive security conditions as part of existing License Agreement.

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